Hearing loss Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes, and therefore cannot establish service connection.

The Board granted the Veteran's request for withdrawal of appeals for increased ratings for his right hip disability and PTSD with depressive disorder. The claim for an increased rating for scars due to shrapnel and motor vehicle accident was not fully substantiated.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain all pertinent treatment records and to provide the Veteran with a VA examination for his claimed disabilities. The claims are being remanded.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss has been denied as his hearing impairment does not meet the criteria for any higher rating under VA's rating schedule.

The Veteran's cataract of the left eye is found to have been incurred during service, and he is granted service connection for this condition. The other issues on appeal are not addressed as they were not included in his notice of disagreement or statement of case.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be secondarily related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, hearing loss, and tinnitus, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board granted the TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's tinnitus began in service and is related to his military noise exposure. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss was not addressed due to a lack of evidence.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is related to his period of active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C and left ear hearing loss, as well as whether there is a current disability. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss can be decided. The case is therefore REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for Bell's Palsy and remanded the remaining issues of service connection for other conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's migraine headaches were incurred in service.,However, the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's hearing loss disability has remained at a noncompensable level throughout the appeal period, as his hearing impairment levels correspond to Level IV in the right ear and Level II in the left ear under Table VI. As such, an evaluation in excess of the current disability rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is now rated at 50 percent effective October 25, 2010. His tinnitus remains rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a sinus disability, and an initial compensable rating for a deviated nasal septum are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records and potential SSA records. Additionally, the Veteran needs new VA examinations to assess his bilateral hearing loss and sinus disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of a nose fracture has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have current hearing loss disability for VA compensation purposes, as his audiometric results did not meet the VA standards for a diagnosis of hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently evaluated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that there are no additional factors warranting an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are being remanded as the VA examination provided by the examiner did not adequately address the continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right ear hearing loss disability is related to his in-service noise exposure as a jet aircraft mechanic, and grants service connection for this condition.